Bernie Sanders breaks with Ilhan Omar and other Squad members over Israel
Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar and other members of the far-left "Squad" have been vocal in their demand that Israel declare a ceasefire in its war with Hamas.
Yet in a humiliating move, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders recently rejected Omar's call and instead asked for "a humanitarian pause."
Senator supports proposed U.N. resolution
According to Fox News, Sanders' words came this past Sunday during an interview with CBS News' "Face the Nation" host Margaret Brennan.
.@BernieSanders on why he has not called for a cease-fire in Gaza, as other progressives have done: "I don't know how you can have a permanent cease-fire with Hamas, who has said before October 7 and after October 7 that they want to destroy Israel, they want a permanent war." pic.twitter.com/nWsx7ft5Gi
— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) December 10, 2023
"First of all, I strongly support and wish and hope that the United States will support the United Nations resolution that was vetoed, that we vetoed the other day," Sanders was quoted as saying.
"That was a humanitarian pause, a humanitarian cease-fire that would, by the way, call for the release of all of the hostages held by Hamas and would have allowed the U.N. and other agencies to begin to supply the enormous amount of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people," the lawmaker continued.
Sanders notes that Hamas wants "a permanent war"
However, Sanders voiced skepticism over whether a cease-fire between Israel and the Iranian-backed terror group is feasible.
"In terms of a permanent cease-fire, I don't know how you could have a permanent cease-fire when Hamas has said before Oct. 7 and after Oct. 7 that they want to destroy Israel."
"They want a permanent war," Sanders said of Hamas before adding, "I don't know how you have a permanent cease-fire with an attitude like that."
However, the left-wing lawmaker did say that he believes Israel "is losing the war in terms of how the world is looking at this situation."
Senator criticizes Biden administration's stance at U.N.
Sanders echoed his call for what he calls "a humanitarian ceasefire" the following day in a post on the social media platform previously known as Twitter.
At a time when Palestinians in Gaza are facing horrific conditions, the U.S. should not be vetoing a UN resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire and the release of all hostages. The children in Gaza need food, water, and medical supplies. We must do everything possible to… https://t.co/hGTKbN1X43
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 10, 2023
The Vermont senator again took issue with the Biden administration's decision to veto a United Nations resolution that called for the fighting to stop and all Israeli hostages to be released.
"The children in Gaza need food, water, and medical supplies. We must do everything possible to make that happen NOW," he insisted.